Rangiroa, Tuamotus

POINTS OF INTEREST

“God’s Aquarium"
Larger than the island of Tahiti, Rangiroa’s turquoise lagoon has been call “God’s Aquarium” by divers and snorkelers from around the world. View myriad dazzling tropical fish cavorting in one of the world’s most beautiful and richest coral reefs on a snorkeling or diving expedition. Snorkeling and diving excursions are available from The Gauguin.

Village Exploration
Rangiroa’s permanent residents all reside on two islands on the northern end of the atoll, and most make their home in the atoll’s two primary villages, Avatoru and Tiputa. Most shops and activities can be found in Avatoru, which also hosts the airport and the port for The Gauguin. Accessible only by boat, Tiputa is the atoll’s administrative center. Both villages are easily explored on foot or by bicycle or scooter.

Beaches & Lagoons
Excursions are available to many local natural wonders. Best known is the Blue Lagoon (Lagon Bleu), a lagoon within the lagoon, located about an hour’s boat ride from Avatoru. To the north of the Blue Lagoon lies l’Ile des Oiseaux, a sanctuary for seabirds. Reef Island (L’Ile aux Recifs) offers swimming in basins formed by fossilized coral formations. Pink Sand Beach (Les Sables Rose) is a gorgeous and still-undiscovered beach. And as you cruise Rangiroa’s lagoon, perhaps you’ll see dolphins jumping at Tiputa Point.

Pearl Farm
One of the largest black pearl cultivators in Polynesia lies in the middle of the motu of Avatoru and can be accessed by the island’s only road or via the lagoon. Here, you can witness firsthand how pearls are cultivated and harvested. Available as a shore excursion from The Gauguin.

View cruises that visit this port

Other Ports

Fakarava, Tuamotus

Rangiroa, Tuamotus

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Population: 2,500 (2012)

Language: French, Paumotu

Currency: XPF

Scheduled Docking Location: Anchored, tender to Ohutu pier

Shopping: Local vendors are set up on the pier upon the ship’s arrival.

Banks / ATMs: There are two ATMs on Rangiroa, both in Avatoru: Banque de Tahiti, in the village (Mon-Fri 7:30am to 11:30am and 1pm to 4pm) and Banque Socredo, beside the airport terminal (Mon, Wed & Fri 7:30am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4pm; Tue & Thu 1:30pm to 4pm). Banque Socredo has two 24-hour ATMs. Cash: best to have local currency (XPF).

Post Office: Tiputa and Avatoru

Internet/Wi-Fi: Snack Lili located on the pier Ohutu, Wi-fi available with a purchase of drink/lunch.

Airport Transportation: The airport is located a few miles from the village of Avatoru and offers direct flights to Papeete and Bora Bora.

Taxis: Manu Taxi Boat, Ohutu Pier

Rental Cars:
Arenahio Location: +689 (40) 96-82-45
Giroux Rangiroa Services: +689 (40) 96-04-96 / (87) 79-24-79
Ohotu Transport: +689 (87) 77-28-02
Rangi Rent A Car: +689 (40) 96-03-28 / (87) 21-35-08

Port Agent Contact:
Office: +689 (40) 86-51-32
Mobile: +689 (87) 29-25-02

Shore Excursions at this port

Below is a list of those shore excursions previously offered in this port. For information on which shore excursions will be offered on a particular cruise, please reference the specific itinerary of that cruise.

Black Pearl Farm

Duration:

1.5 Hours - $39

Explore Rangiroa's black pearl industry and learn about pearl cultivation during this memorable visit to the Black Pearl Farm.

Depart the pier for a ride along Rangiroa's main road, past the airport and on to the Black Pearl Farm. Most pearl farms are small-sized, and the number of workers at this farm is quite representative of the farms in this region.

Upon arrival at the farm, the staff will give you a brief lecture about the farming and production of black pearls. You will learn about the chronology and evolution of the industry, and how oysters are selected, grown, and then grafted for production. Following the lecture, you will proceed to the work sheds where oysters are sorted and cleaned, and watch a grafter at work as he skillfully plies his trade.

Following your visit, you will reboard your minivan for the return ride to the pier.

Please note: This tour is for guests who are interested in learning about pearl cultivation. The Tuamotus are very remote islands. Although the guides used are the best available, they are not certified, and their command of English may be very poor. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

Excursion Code:

RGI-1779

Glass-Bottom Boat (Rangiroa)

Duration:

1 Hour - $65

Get acquainted with the coral gardens and tropical fish of Rangiroa during this scenic glass-bottom boat tour.

Depart the pier aboard a glass-bottom boat, then slowly float over the huge coral heads that cluster in shallow areas inside the Tiputa Channel. Along the way, you will see a colorful world full of parrot fish, butterfly fish, and surgeon fish through the large windows. You may also encounter black-tipped sharks, and catch a glimpse of the majestic Napoleon fish.

During the tour, your Polynesian boat crew will attract the fish directly under the glass panels to make it easy for you to observe and photography them. A cover will provide protection from the sun and eliminate glare, enabling you to take home great photographs.

Following your tour, you will be transferred back to the pier.

Please note: This is not a snorkeling tour. This tour takes place at Motu Nui Nui. Marine life is widely present in this region; however, sightings cannot be guaranteed and tickets are non-refundable should a sighting not occur. The Tuamotu's are very remote islands. Although the guides used are the best available, they are not certified and their command of English may be very poor. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.

Excursion Code:

RGI-1778

SCUBA Motu Nuhi Nuhi - DSD Dive/Beginners (Part 4)

Duration:

2 Hours - $129

Explore Rangiroa’s extraordinary fish and coral marine life during a scenic underwater journey that’s ideally-suited to beginner divers.

Meet your dive instructors at the marina platform and receive your safety briefing. You will then ride in the dive boat to an uninhabited islet, or motu, located on the lagoon side at the entrance to the famous Tiputa Pass. Upon arrival, you will be helped to gear up, then enter the water. Led by your dive master, you will observe spectacular coral formations and fish that include snappers, moray eels, lion fish, clown fish, triggerfish, butterfly fish, and angelfish. At times a shark might swim by or you may surprise a white tip reef shark resting on the bottom.

Available for advance booking 60 days prior to sailing; capacity is limited. For more information about our dive program, visit www.pgcruises.com/scuba.

Excursion Code:

RGI-1988

SCUBA Rangiroa 2 Tank - Active Advanced Certified Divers with Outside Operator

Duration:

4 Hours - $215

Experienced certified divers only. This program is offered through an outside operator and requires a minimum of 50 logged dives and 10 dives within the last 12 months.

Rangiroa offers some of the best dives in the world in and around the Tiputa Pass. Experienced divers won't want to miss this opportunity to explore this prime diving site.

During austral summer (December-March), great hammerhead sharks and manta rays populate this area, and sedentary common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) regularly play in group in the pass or on the outer reef. Because of its large size and the existence of only two passes, each high tide creates a strong incoming current, while each low tide creates a strong outgoing current in those two passes. When the current is flowing inward through Tiputa Pass, about 100 shark specimens gather at its entrance, at 150 feet (50meters) deep. Led by the strong current, sharks can remain motionless, allowing divers to observe them without any difficulty. The dive sites will be decided depending of the tide. Maximum depth on some dives in Rangiroa can be 100 feet (30meters).

Available for onboard booking only, cannot pre-reserve, please visit the Dive Desk once onboard, capacity is limited. For more information about our dive program, visit www.pgcruises.com/scuba.

Excursion Code:

RGI-1991

SCUBA Rangiroa Outer Reef - Experienced Certified Divers with Outside Operator

Duration:

2 Hours - $109

Experienced certified divers won't want to miss this rare opportunity to explore Polynesia's undersea beauty during this picturesque SCUBA adventure at Rangiroa's outer-reef.

Meet your dive instructors at the marina platform where you will receive your safety and diving instructions then you will board into Zodiac® for the ride to the dive site at Rangiroa's outer reef. The whole group will gear up and roll in the water together. As the current exits the pass, it brings a lot of the nutrients for which fish and coral hungrily compete. You will view the hard coral that covers the ocean bottom and swim among large Napoleon wrasse, barracudas, and tropical fish. Eagle and manta rays, sharks of various types, and an occasional dolphin are often seen here, too. You will finish the dive with a deep-blue water ascent.

Following your tour, you will be transferred back to the marina platform.

This dive requires a minimum of 50 logged dives and 10 dives within the last 12 months. Available for onboard booking only, cannot pre-reserve, please visit the Dive Desk once onboard. For more information about our dive programs, visit www.pgcruises.com/scuba.

Excursion Code:

RGI-1989

Snorkeling Rangiroa's 'Aquarium'

Duration:

1.5 Hours - $85

Rangiroa’s spectacular and diverse marine life is yours to discover during this scenic and memorable ride in the Tuamotu Islands.

Depart the pier via local boat for the ride to Motu Nui Nui, a natural, open-water aquarium renowned for its marine life. Upon arrival, you will receive your safety instructions, then enter the water to explore your surroundings. Along the way, you will observe an abundance of colorful fish and coral and marine life. Your guide will offer assistance in the water and throughout the tour. During the tour, you will also have an opportunity to hand-feed the fish.

Following your snorkeling session, you will be transferred back to the pier.

Please note: This tour is recommended for guests who are in good physical condition and used to snorkeling in deep water and strong currents. The Tuamotus are very remote islands. Although the guides used are the best available, they are not certified, and their command of English may be very poor; thus, narration will be very limited tonon-existent. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated. Please wear a swimsuit under a cover-up, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, and bring a bottle of water and a towel from the ship.

Excursion Code:

RGI-1784